House Republican Caucus
Virginia House of Delegates Republican Caucus
House Republicans Highlight Success of Legislative Agenda at End of 2011 Session
Feb 27th
RICHMOND, VA – Highlighting the legislative achievements of the 60-member strong House Republican Majority Caucus in delivering real reforms and forward-looking investments to address the concerns of the Commonwealth, Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) today highlighted the positive results of the policy initiatives advanced by House Republicans this year. After cutting fees, reducing authorized debt, investing in core government services and depositing an additional $64 million into the Rainy Day Fund, the House of Delegates today adjourned sine die, bringing an end to the 2011 Regular Session of the Virginia General Assembly.
“The Republican-led House made real progress during the 2011 Regular Session and on many fronts, especially in passing a fiscally sound and structurally balanced state budget that funds core government services,” said Speaker Howell. “At our insistence, the final budget agreement includes no new fees or higher taxes. It has no earmarks for non-state agencies. There is no funding or debt for a new ‘Taj Mahal’ to replace the General Assembly Building. There is $67 million less in authorized debt. And, the accelerated sales tax is eliminated for 80% of retailers. Yet, there also are prudent investments in economic development, transportation, education, health care and other important services. Overall, we’ve had a very productive legislative session.”
Below is the outcome for a selected list of 100+ measures – grouped by topic – supported by the House Republican Majority. In all, about 1,600 pieces of legislation were approved by the General Assembly this year.
Speaker Howell Welcomes Agreement by House & Senate Conferees to Amend State Budget
Feb 27th
– Structurally Balancing Budget This Year Helps Avoid Calls for Higher Taxes Next Year –
– State Spending Revenues Remain below Fiscal Year 2007 Level –
RICHMOND, VA – Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) today issued the following statement on the agreement by House and Senate negotiators on House Bill 1500, amendments to the state budget:
“Like all Virginians, I am pleased that delegates and senators have reached agreement on differences over how best to amend the existing state budget. Balancing budgets is never easy, especially when the economic recovery is still uncertain and taxpayers, businesses and families continue struggling to live within their means. State finances are no different. Unlike Washington, Virginia has a constitutionally required balanced budget requirement. By setting clear priorities, the General Assembly has produced responsible and fiscally sound budget amendments. Today’s budget conference report funds core government services while also enacting sensible structural reforms in state spending that strengthen the state’s ledger and Virginia’s competitive position for more jobs and prosperity.
Delegate Kirk Cox Discussing the Differences Between the House and Senate Budgets
Feb 14th
In a morning hour speech on the House floor today, Delegate Kirk Cox discussed some the differences between the budget that passed the House of Delegates and the budget that passed the State Senate.
Floor Statement of House Appropriations Committee Chairman Putney on House Budget
Feb 10th
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House, today we consider the Committee amendments to House Bills 1500 -- amendments to the current biennial budget which we adopted last year. The product I submit to you reflects the bi-partisan work of all 22 members of the Committee.
It is my pleasure Mr. Speaker to tell the body that the vote to report HB 1500 as amended was 22-0. A unanimous verdict on amendments to the budget that I believe looks beyond today and recognizing that we must seize the opportunity and begin to correct many of the deficiencies in the budget that we adopted last year.
Delegate Cox’s “Top Jobs of the 21st Century” higher education reform bill unanimously passes the House of Delegates
Feb 3rd
--House Bill 2510 passed by a vote of 98-0--
RICHMOND, VA – Delegate M. Kirkland “Kirk” Cox’s (R- Colonial Heights) “Top Jobs” higher education reform bill, , unanimously passed the House of Delegates yesterday. The comprehensive legislation is aimed at conferring an additional 100,000 associate and bachelor’s degrees for Virginians over the next 15 years. The 26 page comprehensive bill puts the recommendations of the Governor’s Commission on Higher Education, Reform, Innovation, and Investment into Virginia law. The Commission, comprised of legislators, college presidents, and business leaders, worked for seven months to develop innovative approaches to ensure that more Virginians have access to a top-quality education at an affordable price.
“We must ensure that Virginia’s higher education system is preparing our children for the jobs of the 21st century,” said Delegate Cox. “The ‘Top Jobs’ legislation will increase access for Virginia students to our colleges and universities at an affordable price and ensure that Virginia will continue to have a well-educated work force moving forward.”
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Va. House of Delegates Passes Repeal Amendment 59-34
Jan 25th
-- HJR 542 would give Two-Thirds of the States Power to Repeal a Federal Law or Regulation --
RICHMOND, VA - By a vote of 59 to 34, the Virginia House of Delegates today voted to pass and send to the Senate of Virginia House Joint Resolution 542, commonly known as the "Repeal Amendment." This vote is one of the earliest victories for the Repeal Amendment, a nation-wide effort championed in the Commonwealth by Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) and Delegate James M. LeMunyon (R-Fairfax). Speaker Howell was the first state lawmaker in the country to offer his support for this legislative initiative calling for a 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The Repeal Amendment is gaining additional attention and support not just in Virginia but in many other state legislatures.
HJ 542, patroned by Delegate James LeMunyon, and co-patroned by a total of 51 delegates, is legislation requesting the U.S. Congress to call an amendment convention pursuant to Article V of the United States Constitution for the purpose of proposing a constitutional amendment that permits the repeal of any federal law or regulation by vote of two-thirds of the state legislatures acting in unison.
"Checks and balances are at the heart of the U.S. Constitution and The Repeal Amendment is a timely and thoughtful check on the threat to American liberties posed by our presently out-of-control federal Congress and federal government," said Speaker Howell.
"Like many, I believe the Repeal Amendment will help restore the proper balance of power between the states and the federal government as contemplated by our founding fathers," Howell continued. "With no constitutional requirement for a balanced federal budget, overwhelming levels of national debt, unbridled federal mandates and unconscionable deficit spending by Washington that has mortgaged the futures of current and unborn generations, it is the duty of leaders and concerned citizens to use every tool available to help restore the health and integrity of our republic."
Speaker Howell concluded, "Getting two thirds of state legislatures to agree on repealing a federal law or regulation will not be easy or commonplace. It will happen only if the law or rule is highly unpopular. But, perhaps its most important effect would be deterring further expansion of federal power at the expense of the sovereign people and state governments. That would be a positive step forward."
The text of HJR 542 follows. For more information about The Repeal Amendment, please visit the Speaker's website - - or go to .
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 542
Offered January 12, 2011
Prefiled December 15, 2010
Making application to the Congress of the United States to call an amendment convention pursuant to Article V of the United States Constitution for the purpose of proposing a constitutional amendment that permits the repeal of any federal law or regulation by vote of two-thirds of the state legislatures.
WHEREAS, Article I of the United States Constitution begins "All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress"; and
WHEREAS, the Congress has exceeded the legislative powers granted in the Constitution thereby encroaching on the powers that are "reserved to the states respectively, or to the people" as the Tenth Amendment affirms and the rights "retained by the people" to which the Ninth Amendment refers; and
WHEREAS, this encroachment includes the accumulation of federal debt, which combined with interest represents a future tax, and is of such great proportion that responsibility for its payment will be passed to future, unborn generations of Americans to assume without their consent, thereby disparaging their rights; and
WHEREAS, this encroachment also includes compelling state and local governments to comply with federal laws and regulations without accompanying funding for such mandates; and
WHEREAS, in Federalist No. 85, Alexander Hamilton wrote in reference to Article V of the Constitution and the calling of a convention for the purpose of proposing amendments that, "We may safely rely on the disposition of the State legislatures to erect barriers against the encroachments of the national authority"; and
WHEREAS, the Constitution should be amended in order to halt federal encroachment and restore a proper balance between the powers of Congress and those of the several states, and to prevent the denial or disparagement of the rights retained by the people; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Commonwealth of Virginia hereby applies to the Congress of the United States to call an amendment convention pursuant to Article V of the United States Constitution for the purpose of proposing a constitutional amendment that permits the repeal of any federal law or regulation by vote of two-thirds of the state legislatures. The Virginia Delegation to such convention, when called, shall propose the following amendment:
"Any provision of law or regulation of the United States may be repealed by the several states, and such repeal shall be effective when the legislatures of two-thirds of the several states approve resolutions for this purpose that particularly describe the same provision or provisions of law or regulation to be repealed."; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That this resolution is revoked and withdrawn, nullified, and superseded to the same effect as if it had never been passed, and retroactive to the date of passage, if it is used for the purpose of calling a convention or used in support of conducting a convention to amend the Constitution of the United States for any purpose other than consideration of the amendment proposed in this resolution; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Commonwealth of Virginia reserves its right to add future amendments as the legislature deems warranted to this application; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That delegates to such convention, when called, be selected according to procedures established by the legislatures of the several states; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit copies of this resolution to the Speaker of the United States house of Represenatives, the President of the United States Senate, and the members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation so that they may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter.